Unit Three
Unit Three
In the Baroque era, many new forms, genres and textures emerged, and new
instruments were developed. For the first time, instrumental music received the same
attention as vocal music.
The creation of the first operas popularized a new texture: monody, emphasizing the
polarity of the outer voices, with a single vocal line replacing the rich vocal polyphony of
the Renaissance. In addition, the relationship between text and music became more
intimate than ever before not only in opera but also in the cantata and oratorio. The
quest to express human emotions through music was realized in both vocal and
instrumental genres.
- numbers are placed below the bass line to show harmonic progression
- it generally involves two performers: one playing the notated bass line, the other
realizing the harmonies as indicated by the figured bass
Melody from the opening of Henry Purcell’s “Thy Hand Belinda”, Dido and Aeneas (1689)
monody
2. Vocal Music
Opera
The dawning of the Baroque period is defined by the birth of a remarkable new genre:
the opera. The first operas were written at the turn of the 17th century in Florence, Italy,
where a group of intellectuals, artists and composers (Florentine Camerata) attempted
to recreate the performance style of ancient Greek drama.
Characteristic Features
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it combines vocal and instrumental music with drama (staging and acting), visual
arts (costumes and scenery), and often dance
the opera began as an elite art form and initially flourished in the palaces of the
Italian nobility
The works of George Frideric Händel (1685-1759) represent an important stage in the
development of Baroque opera. Handel’s rise to fame coincided with his arrival in
London. His first opera for the London stage, Rinaldo (1711), captured the public’s
interest and launched a spectacular career for the German-born composer. Over the
next thirty years, Handel dominated the London opera scene. During that time, he
created about forty operas, several of which are still performed today (Giulio Cesare,
Serse, Orlando, and Alcina).
Cantata
The German Lutheran Church played a major role in the growth and development of the
cantata in the Baroque era.
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it is written for vocal soloist(s) and chorus with instrumental accompaniment
Required Listening: Cantata No. 80 “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” by J. S. Bach
Oratorio
An oratorio is a piece for choir, solo voices and orchestra with a text based on a dramatic
story from the Bible. It was not part of the church service.
Characteristic Features
2. Instrumental Music
Baroque composers developed many new instrumental forms independent of vocal
models. For the first time, music written specifically for instruments attained the same
level of significance as vocal music.
Concerto
Chief among the new instrumental genres in the Baroque period was the concerto.
Thousands of concertos were composed by such leading figures as Tomaso Albinoni,
Johann Sebastian Bach, Arcangelo Corelli, George Frideric Händel, Guiseppe Torelli, and
Antonio Vivaldi. In their works, they explored new formal constructions, innovative
timbres and at times highly virtuosic playing.
Characteristic Features
the word concerto comes from the Latin concertare, which means to collaborate
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the outer movements usually used ritornello form: the opening passage
(ritornello) is restated throughout the movement
there were two types of concertos in the Baroque period: solo concerto (with a
single soloist) and concerto grosso, in which a small group of solo instruments,
known as concertino, is showcased
he composed many sacred works for the Lutheran Church (chorales, cantatas);
composed a Mass in B Minor, even though he was not Catholic
a virtuoso organist himself, he wrote many very difficult works for keyboard:
preludes and fugues, suites, partitas, Italian Concerto, Goldberg Variations…
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor is probably his most famous organ work
Bach composed orchestral suites, solo concertos, concerti grossi and a wide
range of chamber music
Orchestral Suite
Originally, dance music served a very practical function. Over time it evolved into a
stylized art form. By the Baroque era, dance music was no longer intended just for
dancing. In the Renaissance era dances were often paired to emphasize contrast, as in
the Pavane and Galliard combination. In the Baroque era, the grouping of contrasting
dance pieces was taken a step further with the establishment of the formal dance suite.
Characteristic Features
o courante
o gigue
o allemande
o sarabande
o orchestral works: suites (Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks),
concerti grossi, organ concertos
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Characteristic Features
clavichord
o the sound is generated by small metal tangents that strike the strings
inside the instrument
harpsichord
o the sound is generated by small quills inside the instrument that pluck
the strings
the toccata and prelude are short musical pieces used as an introduction of a
larger work, normally a fugue; they were composed to show the abilities of the
performer, and they usually have sections in which the musician improvised
In order to achieve this, boys were subjected to a surgical procedure before reaching
puberty which prevented their voices from becoming lower due to the effect of male
hormones. These singers were the castrati.
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The castrati became the greatest stars of the Baroque opera. The most famous and
successful castrato was Carlo Broschi, called Farinelli, who worked in Spain at Philip V’s
court for many years.
Today there are countertenors, male singers that use a specific vocal technique to get a
high and powerful voice.
3. PAST TO PRESENT
Hip hop and Baroque
Hip hop music arose during the 1970s, when it became increasingly popular among the
African-American and Latin American communities of some New York neighbourhoods.
Characteristic Features
the term hip hop refers to a black cultural movement that includes breakdance
(dance), graffiti, rap…
it originated in the Bronx (a borough of New York City)
the most important element in the music is the rhythm
rapping is a semi-spoken recitation
rap is often improvised, with performers competing to come up with the best
lyrics
It uses a well-known Baroque piece as a background: “Air” from Suite in D BWV 1068, J.
S. Bach